Dr Gillian I Leitch

Nothing says "I don't have an economic policy" like blaming the immigrants. Offer the worst possible reasoning to those who don't want to think, but would rather hate, and do nothing to better the situation. Alberta follows a well-worn playbook.

N.S. government closing some museums, most visitor information centres | CBC News The province says the closures are related to the 'modernization' of the museum system and visitor information delivery.

NS gov is permanently closing Fisherman’s Life Museum in Oyster Pond, Prescott House Museum in Starrs Point and Sutherland Steam Mill Museum in Tatamagouche

Visitor Info centres permanently closing include #Halifax Airport, Peggys Cove, Port Hastings and Yarmouth. Amherst will now be May to Oct

Okay, that is a bummer. The US women's hockey team defeated Canada in OT. Both teams played so well. But it is sad, nonetheless.

For many Canadians this may draw a 'meh,' so what, but archives, especially community archives, are a tangible link to collective memory and the past, in the past few years I've witnessed many reserves starting their own archives, photographs and stories, here the cuts will hurt, community...

It is a "Board of Piece" not peace. It is designed to enrich its participants at the expense of the Palestinian people. No doubt the group will carve the territory into little pieces.

The University of Prince Edward Island is hiring a historian in Atlantic Canadian history! Details below…

www.upei.ca/hr/competiti...

I decided to check to see if "basket weaving" was actually an option in Ontario. I mean - is Ford right, is there a market? Apparently yes, as my google search found 3 private businesses offering courses in basket weaving. Don't take education advice from the premier is my take-away.

Library and Archives Canada to cut 56 positions Ninety-four employees at Library and Archives Canada have received notices that their jobs could be at risk, as part of the federal government’s plan to cut the size of the federal public service by 2029.

Library and Archives Canada to cut 56 positions

I love it when spam email tells me they found my address when they were searching for the gospel. I mean really it shows that they a) need a new search engine and b) think I am that stupid.

I say this because this has been the wording I have received a lot this last couple of months.

My weekly nag - your elected representatives are not psychic - you have to tell them what you think is important, what you value, and what you think about government policy. Write them.

(also for MPs tell them you are a constituent or they will ignore the email)

I don't know where you can find one - but YES!!!!

Shameless plug: I have a little ebook on writing effective (scripted, humanities-style) conference papers! It's aimed mainly at grad students, but of course there are some senior scholars who could learn from it....

Does anyone know of any articles focussed on the issue of public access to museum collections databases and AI? I’ve got some concerns as we work towards launching a public portal. OR if you work at a museum and some of your collection is available online, what are you doing about it? #museums

St George’s Anglican Church Archives, Montreal A couple of weeks ago St George’s Anglican Church in Montreal announced that it had had a flood in its archives. The church, which had originally been founded in 1843 as a chapel of ease for the Ca…

gilliandr.wordpress.com/2026/02/15/s...

Apparently when you email your MP you have to include your physical address in the email, otherwise they will not reply to it - constituents only. So my two letters to @gregfergus.bsky.social about my concerns will not get a reply.

Noted for future emails. But learn from my mistakes.

Happy Valentine's Day

IWM acquires Dame Vera Lynn wartime archive - Museums Association Collection of second world war entertainer includes fan letters and personal diary

News | Imperial War Museum acquires Dame Vera Lynn wartime archive

Collection of second world war entertainer includes fan letters and personal diary

I am curious at what kind of independence Alberta separatists intend when they are having meetings with Trump officials. I am also curious why some think they need an army right away (one of today's headlines)

The Hudson's Bay plaques are coming down - Toronto Life Should they be preserved in a museum?

The Hudson's Bay plaques are coming down - Toronto Life share.google/PZ2hu18MU01M...

Practicing with a timer before you arrive makes a real difference. Reading aloud often takes longer than expected. How do you test your timing before presenting at a conference?

archives are a tiny, tiny proportion of federal funding, killing them simply increases an amnesia about Canada's past, and that's not a good thing, other than for those who benefit from erasing the past or rewriting it for political means.

CFP: "Critical Feminist Histories in Canada/Approches critiques en histoire féministe au Canada" conference at Queen's University, 2-4 October 2026. Please share widely!
@cndhistassoc.bsky.social

Unique Canadian fungus 'bank' with thousands of specimens saved by family foundation | CBC News A unique collection of microscopic fungi used for Canadian medical and biodiversity research has been saved from being shipped overseas.

www.cbc.ca/news/science...

on a related note...

National Library of Korea Rejects #AI Publisher's 9,000 Book Deposits (via Chosun Daily) #libraries #books #GenAI www.chosun.com/english/trav...

It must be comforting to billionaires that when their monopoly is threatened that they have a direct line to the White House, and who will help them out.

James David Van Der Beek photo, looking

Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.

James Van Der Beek, who starred in the teen drama series "Dawson’s Creek," has died at 48

Call for Contributions: A Sourcebook for Histories of Weather and Weathering We invite contributions to this planned open access sourcebook, which aims to present and analyse a diverse range of primary sources that reveal embodied, scientific and cultural knowledges in histori...

Call for Contributions: A Sourcebook for Histories of Weather and Weathering

Editors: @rhiggitt.bsky.social @tamaracaulkins.bsky.social & @lottaleiwo.bsky.social
Proposal Deadline - 4 September 2026

niche-canada.org/2026/02/10/c...

#envhist #climhist #histsci #weather

Re the testimony of Lutnick on Epstein. He admitted to bringing his wife and children to the home (island) of a convicted pedophile and had lunch with him. In what world do you bring children to the home of a pedophile? Why is no one asking why he is so irresponsible with his own children?

As an experiment, I just attempted to use Google AI to resolve a simple CP Style question. In 10 minutes of back and forthing, it confidently provided multiple incorrect responses. When challenged to cite its source, it offered a link to PornHub. I shit you not.